Slicing mechanism for bread



(No Model.)

Jf P'ALt-ows, 2d." smome MECHANISM FOR BREAD, M. No. 504,429. Patented Sept. 5, 1893.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH FALLOWS, 2D, OF SOUTHBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS.

SLICING MECHANISM FOR BREAD, 800.

v SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 504,429, dated September 5, 1893. Application filed May 6. 1893- Serial No. 473,249. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOSEPH FALLOWS, 2d,'a citizen of the United States, residing at Southbridge, in the county of Worcester and'State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Slicing Mechanism for Bread, &c., of which the. following, together with the accompanyingdrawings, is a specifi-' cation sufficiently full, clear, and exact to enable persons skilled in the art to which this invention appertains to make and use the same.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple, convenient and efficient hand-cutter for hotel and household use for slicing bread, vegetables and other material in uniform thickness.

To this end my invention consists in a slicing mechanism of the peculiar construction explained in this specification and defined in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side view, Fig. 2 a top or plan view, and Fig. 3 a front view of my improved slicing mechanism; and Fig. 4 is a section through the knife blade and its guide rolls.

In my improved slicing mechanism the frame is composed of two upright parts or guide-plates A A having parallel adjacent.

faces, and each having therein a diagonally disposed central opening B and two downwardly and forwardly inclined parallel slots 0 and G, of similar forms and at corresponding positions in the two parts as shown.

Upon one of the parts A there is formed, or attached, a V-shaped feed trough D having inclined sides 01 d that correspond in position with the lower sides of the opening B. A foot or standard A is also provided thereon suitable for supporting the mechanism in position upon a table. The foot and feed-trough are best made integral with the plate A. The foot can be provided with holes S and fixed to the table or bench by screws inserted therethrough when desired. The front edge of the frame is formed with the same inclination as the slot 0. The two parts A and A are secured together by'screws, bolts or rivets e; a strip of sheet metal E being introduced between the parts, or a flange formed on one of the parts along the top and rear edge, (see dotted lines Fig. 1) so as to leave a narrow intervening vertical space F between the adjacent parallel surfaces of the two plates.

The cutter consists of the hand-knife which has its blade I arranged between the plates A and A. Through the blade I- are fixed studs J having thereon rollers K that fit within the inclined slots C Q, as indicated. The handle I of the knife projects at the front of the frame sothat it can be conveniently grasped by the hand of the operator for moving the knife. The knife is guided by the rolls in the slots 0 O and is supported in upright position within the space F by the parallel inner faces of the plates A A. The lower part of the outer plate A is cut away, as at F,

forming an opening into the space F, so that fragments or crumbs can readily escape therefrom, thus avoiding liability of clogging the space.

The studs J and rollers K are best combined with the knife-blade in the manner indicated in Fig. 4, the stud being provided with a shoulder at one side of the blade and a thin sleeve 11 arranged thereon at the other side of the blade with the rollers mounted thereon as shown. A nut n screwed on the end of the stud binds the blade firmly between the shoulder and said sleeve while allowing the rolls K to run freely thereon. By removing the nut n and taking out the stud the knife can be released from the guiding frame at any time when desired, for sharpening.

M indicates the gage for regulating the thickness of slices. Said gage is pivoted at m upon a bracket a fixed on the plate A, and is provided with a handle m, so that the gage head can be swung toward or from the endof the feed trough or plane of the knife. The bracket is provided with a series of notches or indentations t with which alug on the handle m engages for holding the gage at any position of adjustment.

In the operation, the bread or other material to be sliced is placed within the trough between the inclined sides (1 cl, which hold it in angular position relatively to the line of out. The knife is raised to the top of the space and the loaf moved through the opening B until it strikes against the gage-head M. The operator then, by means of the handle 1, draws forward the knife and the blade is moved downward by the rollers K running in the slots 0 0', thus severing the slice which can be removed and the operation repeated. By guiding the hand-knife in the inclined slots, and confining it, at front and rear of the feed opening, between the two parts A and A of the frame, as shown, the knife blade is sustained against lateral flexure so that a thin blade whci is easily forced through the bread by the hand, can be used; while the studs or rolls, being on both sides of the blade and at its front and rear ends, serve to keep the blade in straight and level relation While the downward and forward draw cut is effected; also by making the feed trough inclined in relation to line of the knife edge, the loaf is held upon one corner, so that the operation of cutting or slicing is very easily and satisfactorily performed.

I am aware that different kinds of breadcutting and slicing appliances have been heretofore devised and employed, some of which are provided with inclined or curved slots for directing the movement of their knives. I'do not, therefore, herein broadly claim mechanism for the purpose, irrespective of the particular construction and mode of operation specified.

I claim- 1. In combination, substantially as described, the two upright guiding-plates A A having similar downwardly and forwardly inclined guiding-slots O O and the diagonally disposed central opening B therein; one of said plates provided with the foot A and V shaped feed-trough D on its outer side; said plates connected together at their upper and rear edges by bolts e with the strip or flange E that sustain said plates with an interven ng space, and the knife I movably confined within said intervening space, and provided at its opposite sides with guide-studs that work in said guiding slots, and a handle I that projects at the front of the frame, as shown, for the purpose set forth.

2. In combination with the platesAA and knife I supported and guided therein, as shown and described; the gage M consisting of a swinging handled lever pivoted upon a bracket a fixed to the plate A, and a notched or indented segment for retaining adjustment of said gage, substantially as set forth.

3. In a slicing mechanism of the character described, the plate A having at its lower edge'the cut-away or recess at F, in combination with the plate A attached thereto with the intervening space F, and the knife working and guided between said plates, said cutaway opening into said intervening space, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. The combination with the hand-knife blade, of the removable stud having the shoulder, the rollers mounted on said stud at opposite sides of the blade, and the nut on the threaded end of said stud, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

Witness myv hand this 29th day of April, A. D. 1893.

CHAS. H. BURLEIGH, FRED (J. HANSON. 

